Camouflage pattern having wave-like lines

ABSTRACT

An article of manufacture includes an object having a surface and a camouflage design on the surface. The camouflage design includes a plurality of non-intersecting first curves and a plurality of non-intersecting second curves, wherein each first curve of the plurality of non-intersecting first curves intersects each second curve of the plurality of non-intersecting second curves. The plurality of non-intersecting first curves are defined by a plurality of first polynomials comprising at least one polynomial having a second degree and at least one polynomial having a third degree. The plurality of non-intersecting second curves are defined by a plurality of second polynomials comprising at least one polynomial having a second degree and at least one polynomial having a third degree.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/036,225, filed May 12, 2016, which is a 371 of PCT/CO2014/000005 filed on May 14, 2014, which, in turn, claimed the priority of Colombian Patent Application No. CO/2013/267732 filed on Nov. 14, 2013, both applications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to a camouflage pattern based on two designs, the first of these being a camouflage print composed of two or more colors, two or more tones or two or more shades of the same color, which has different levels of reflectance, and a second design comprising a series of diagonal wave-like lines superimposed on the print of the first design, which, in combination, produce a level of reflectance of the light spectrum in different wavelengths, which generates an optical effect that enhances the capacity to blend in with surroundings and to pass unnoticed in various environments, including jungle, woodland, savannah, desert, and an urban environment, both by day and by night, even when using night-vision equipment.

The pattern of the invention may be applied to different surfaces, including textiles, footwear, helmets, vehicles, aircraft, boats, structures, buildings, firearms, and any other military supplies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The development of camouflage patterns arose as a response to human attempts at not being seen, and began in 1942 with the pattern known as “duck hunter”, which was associated with the model having large, irregular spots in various colors on a solid background. Variations on the original pattern were reproduced by the Americans and foreign companies from the 1960s to the 1990s, and were marketed as sports hunting apparel. This style of camouflage is also often called duck hunter “spot” or “patch”. Despite being in widespread use, this camouflage pattern does not have the effect of providing depth and does not result in a camouflage effect in surroundings other than in Nature, such as blacktop, snow, desert, etc.

The search to improve on this first attempt led to the “brushstroke” camouflage used by Major Denison, of the British Army, who took a khaki-color cloth and applied color to it with a large brush to generate a brushstroke effect and thus to create a camouflage pattern for paratroopers, who were likely to be targets for enemy snipers. The term “brushstroke” relates to the brush strokes painted with such large brushes, which resulted in broad swathes of color. The brushstroke pattern was used on British uniforms during the 1960s and was copied by a number of countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. This pattern influenced the development of other, derived patterns, such as the French “lizard” and the Vietnamese “tigerstripe”. Despite the advance that this design represented at the time, it has the disadvantage of being a hand-made design and therefore there is no defined pattern enabling it to adapt natural forms and thus to produce an optical effect of deception or invisibility.

In parallel with the brushstroke pattern, the United States devised the ERDL pattern, known as the “leaf pattern”, used during the Vietnam War, this being a design comprising organic green shapes with brown spots and grass shapes, with black branches and a lime-green background. Despite the fact that various designs have been derived from the leaf pattern, they all tend to have larger, superimposed shapes and large areas of solid color. Green was predominant in the original pattern, characterized by narrow, irregular branch shapes in two or more colors, on a solid background.

As already mentioned, the French opted for the “leopard” camouflage pattern, known locally by French paratroopers during the Algerian War as the “lizard” pattern. This pattern is a direct descendent of the British “brushstroke” design. There are two versions of the lizard pattern, namely one pattern in which the stripes are vertically oriented and another in which they are horizontally oriented; French patterns created in the 1950s were horizontal, but those produced by Portugal shortly afterwards were vertical.

The era of the emergence of the “leopard” camouflage pattern saw the development of the “splinter pattern”, which is a reference to camouflage designs originating with the German Wehrmacht, incorporating geometric shapes with an overprint of rain straits, and for derived patterns. Although the superimposition of “rain” was a feature of the original German designs, the term “splinter” covers all designs having geometric shapes resembling splintered shards of glass or other brittle materials. The original German term for this pattern was “Splittertarn” (splinter camouflage) or “Splittermuster” (splinter pattern).

The prior art also includes the jigsaw puzzles pattern, which, unlike the majority of the camouflage patterns already mentioned, did not derive from one particular pattern. The most prominent of the jigsaw puzzles patterns was that developed by Belgium in the decade up to 1956. Although the initial Belgian camouflage patterns were influenced by the brushstroke design, this design broke the mold and formed a category of camouflage designs characterized by shapes resembling the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

In 1960, there arose the Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM), one of the models most widely copied worldwide. Many countries have their own variants on this pattern, adapting it to normal woodland or to desert. The “standard DPM model” was developed for temperate climates and incorporates the colors black, brown and bright green, on a khaki or tan background. Dozens of variations were designed for tropical climates, together with some for desert climates. The DPM pattern continues to be used in the British Army, but it is gradually being replaced by the new Multi-Terrain Pattern (MTP). The problem with this design is that as the material wears out the colors fade, which gives rise to an easily detectable visual effect. This camouflage pattern involves a mixture of spots of different colors resembling those in the surroundings, but the distribution of the colors is over very wide ranges, which has a negative impact on the camouflage visual effect.

In the era during which the DPM design and the “leopard” pattern were developed, the “rain” pattern also came to the fore, this latter being a camouflage design incorporating a high percentage of vertically aligned “streaks” or “flecks” simulating an image of falling rain. During the Second World War, the German Wehrmacht used this feature in various camouflage patterns, and principally in the “Splittermuster” (splinter) and “Sumpfmuster” (marsh) designs. These patterns were subsequently modified, but the concept of “falling rain” (in which the actual raindrops are isolated as the principal feature against a background of solid color) emerged in the Warsaw Pact countries in Eastern Europe. The South African government even reproduced the pattern for its special forces units, where the pattern earned the nickname “rice fleck”. Poland appears to have been the first Warsaw Pact country to produce a simplified “rain pattern” design, consisting of thin brown rain straits on a field grey background.

Another widely recognized camouflage pattern is that which was given the name “tigerstripe” pattern, which is a reference to a family of camouflage designs developed in Southeast Asia (particularly the Republic of Vietnam) during the 1960s. The term “tigerstripe” (or “tiger model”) refers to the rudimentary similarity between the narrow brush strokes of the camouflage design and the naturally occurring design of the pelt of the genus Panthera tigris. The first “tigerstripe” pattern model was a locally made copy of the French lizard pattern produced for the Vietnamese Marine Corps (S

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c-Chi{circumflex over (é)}n). Variants of this pattern include designs having stripes in different colors or tones drawn on a background comprising green and browns. Other variants are associated with the number of stripes and are known as the “sparse” and “dense” versions.

Another camouflage design widely used on military uniforms was developed in 1971 by the United States, and it is known as the “chocolate chip” design. This camouflage pattern originally included six colors and arose as a response to the conditions encountered in the rocky deserts of California. The original design consisted of blotches in two shades of mid-brown over large areas of sand and tan, dotted with smaller rock shapes printed in black and off-white. This design was most in use between 1981 and 1991. It was worn initially by United States military personnel serving in the Sinai, but its most prevalent use was during Operation Desert Shield/Storm (the Persian Gulf War) and later in deployments to Somalia. Over time, it was established that the design had limited effectiveness in many of the arid sandy deserts of the Persian Gulf and North Africa, and from 1991 it was replaced by the three-color desert pattern. Nevertheless, the design of six original colors has been used by many nations and has given rise to a large assortment of derivatives using different color combinations.

The year 1981 saw the introduction of the term “woodland”, generally applied to the USA m/81 “woodland” pattern (which itself was derived from the m1948 ERDL pattern) and all its derivatives. The “woodland” camouflage is based on the m/81 “tree” pattern and has been one of the most duplicated and modified camouflage patterns. This design has been the one most used by military forces worldwide, and even now many military uniforms use it.

Nowadays, the most popular camouflage design is that known as “digital”, designed using computer algorithms programmed to create micropatterns for effective disruption (organic, conventional and/or analog camouflage designs used for macropatterns). The theory behind micropatterns is that the large blotches of color with sharp outlines are easier to see, while blurring or dithering the edges of the colored patches makes the outlines more difficult to discern.

In common usage, however, the term “digital” has been used to refer to any camouflage design incorporating pixels rather than organic shapes to create the design. Although the term “pixelated” camouflage is more precise.

The first country to adopt a true digital model was Canada, which introduced its CADPAT (Canadian Pattern) in 1997. The patents relating to this design include patent CA2442558, which relates to a camouflage material having a granitic aspect made of intermixed colored grains in which around 21% of said colored grains are in a light green color; approximately 6% of said colored grains are in a brown color; approximately 48% of said colored grains are in a mid-green color, and over 25% of said colored grains are in a black color. The identified benefits of this design include a reduction in the probability of detection by night-vision devices.

The camouflage effect achieved by this pattern relies on the interplay of colors of different wavelengths, which makes it possible to conceal oneself in spaces with similar tones. Thus, the model today has three variants: temperate woodland (TW), arid regions (AR), and winter/arctic (WA).

The temperate woodland pattern (CADPAT TW) has four specific colors—light green, green, brown and black—and was first introduced in 1996, on a cover for a new helmet for use in darkness. At the same time, the pattern was also introduced in a new range of individual camouflage apparel. The CADPAT pattern for arid regions (AR), used on uniforms for operations in desert, near-desert and savannah environmental conditions, includes three different colors of brown, while the winter/arctic pattern was introduced as an update on monochromatic winter whites, with a view to further enhancing a serviceman's day and night camouflage capacity, including camouflage capacity under observation with infrared (NIR) technology. Finally, there is the urban CADPAT pattern designed for use in built-up areas.

The MARPAT (Marine Pattern) is a digital-design camouflage very similar to the CADPAT (Canadian Pattern). It is formed by square and rectangular blocks of brown, green and black, which, when well-combined, result in a very effective disruptive pattern. This uniform comes in two official versions—woodland and desert—and an urban pattern is currently under development, although, also, a non-official model, in grays, whites and blacks, is being perfected.

Patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,957, which protects this pattern, establishes that the disruptive camouflage pattern system consists of a macropattern and a micropattern, in which the micropattern is formed by pixels with sharp edges proportional to the size of a camouflaged object, the pixels are at least in four colors with a variety of dark and light colors in which the pattern is repeated at established intervals and, within the design repeat, the lightest color is a base color that includes approximately 5% of the repeat, the next darker color is included in approximately 47% of the repeat, the next darker color is present in approximately 30% of the repeat, and the darkest color which includes approximately in 18% of the repeat, the pixels of the micropattern create the shapes of the macropattern, the specific combinations of the pixels of the micropattern which generate the shapes of the macropattern may be in the same color or in different colors, the shapes of the macropattern disrupt the shape of the camouflaged subject, the proportion of light pixels to dark pixels in the micropattern, combined with the effect of the micro- and macropattern, produces a disruptive camouflage not only for the human eye but also for infrared-light devices, and the camouflaged subject has a lightness coordinate (L*) which is comparable to the negative space surrounding the camouflaged subject.

On the basis of the two abovementioned developments, many countries have adopted pixelated or “digital” designs, some of which are very effective and others of which have a closer link to the current fashion for pragmatic camouflage design.

Further information on camouflage can be found in patent U.S. Pat. No. 8,307,748B2, Multi-Range Camouflage Design and Method, wherein the pattern is a grid composed of cells (pixels), in which there is a minimum color variation between neighboring cells, which makes it possible to conceal the object at great distances. The disadvantage of this patent lies in that the method of minimum variation of colors does not allow one and the same pattern to be adapted to different surrounding environments.

The prior art also included patent DE202009018499U1, which discloses a camouflage pattern with a polygonal design, in which in an adjacent manner the shapes that make up the camouflage pattern are connected uniformly. This provides flexible camouflage for different objects. The disadvantage of this patent lies in that it does not establish the proportion of the colors used in the shapes or the distance between the elements of the polygonal surface, which prevents a determination of the way in which the pattern might be applied to any type of surface.

Lastly, patent CA2257688C was found, which is entitled “Deception method and product”, which makes use of an “optical illusion” to generate a camouflage pattern with three (03) mutually completely different regions. Although there is a type of grid within one of the regions of the camouflage pattern, this is linked to technical drawing specifications where said grid denotes a particular color, plus the grid is not superimposed on a pixelated pattern. The invention of this application provides camouflage material that deceives animals (using the infrared pattern), but not humans. The disadvantage of this patent lies in that the deception concept does not use a pixelation that distributes colors in different proportions, which does not make it possible to adapt the pattern to different surrounding environments. Furthermore, this design was produced to deceive the animal eye, but not the human eye.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

If the above information is taken into consideration, it is obvious that patterns known in the prior art were based on the combination of colors for simulating the tones and shapes found in surroundings. This means that, despite the progress achieved, there is a need to reproduce the pattern in different colors and tones in order that the camouflage can be adapted to the terrain where it is designed to pass unnoticed.

That being the case, there is obviously a need to acquire a multi-terrain camouflage pattern that makes it possible to reduce perception of the object covered with said pattern, independently of the place where said object is located.

The pattern of the present invention successfully potentiates the camouflage effect by combining two designs that are a combination of a pattern of diagonal wave-like lines, which, when superimposed on a camouflage print, divert the attention of the observer who, when confronted with multiple wavelengths of light reflected on the pattern, does not perceive the object owing to the optical illusion that said wavelengths generate in the brain.

In accordance with an embodiment, an item of manufacture includes a surface having a camouflage pattern. The camouflage pattern includes a first pattern made up of a plurality of colors and a second pattern made up of a first plurality of non-intersecting curves and a second plurality of non-intersecting curves. The first pattern may include a plurality of pixelated shapes, blotches, bands, brushstrokes, etc. The first set of non-intersecting curves intersect the second set of non-intersecting curves. For example, the second pattern may be overlaid over the first pattern. The second pattern may include one or more colors from the first pattern.

In accordance with an embodiment, an article of manufacture includes an object having a surface and a camouflage design on the surface. The camouflage design includes a plurality of non-intersecting first curves and a plurality of non-intersecting second curves, wherein each first curve of the plurality of non-intersecting first curves intersects each second curve of the plurality of non-intersecting second curves. The plurality of non-intersecting first curves are defined by a plurality of first polynomials comprising at least one polynomial having a second degree and at least one polynomial having a third degree. The plurality of non-intersecting second curves are defined by a plurality of second polynomials comprising at least one polynomial having a second degree and at least one polynomial having a third degree.

In on embodiment, the object is an item of clothing, a vehicle, a tank, an airplane, a building, a tent, a backpack, or a weapon.

In another embodiment, the object is an item of clothing, wherein the item of clothing is a uniform.

In another embodiment, the plurality of first polynomials includes the following:

-   -   (1) L1(x)=1.0836207177069 x²+1.921228745901 x+0.5724094221115     -   (2) L2(x)=−0.0722721014375 x²+1.9179524234076 x−1.2456803219701     -   (3) L3(x)=1.4794218428651 x³−1.174759250845 x²+1.8996022653495 x     -   (4) L4(x)=0.7939941438544 x³−1.1858399917424 x²+2.2388931265054         x−0.6140668972257         -   and the plurality of second polynomials includes the             following:     -   (5) L5(x)=0.302499107406 x²−2.2942684500755 x+0.6722748559549     -   (6) L6(x)=−0.795648432102 x³+1.2617498853453 x²−2.7101461651996         x+1.4462384418432     -   (7) L7(x)=−0.5738513358302 x³+1.9119887350931 x²−4.1031200242697         x+2.6729425536722     -   (8) L8(x)=−4.7411319472502 x²+6.4893735173258 x−1.1571743676205.

In another embodiment, the plurality of non-intersecting first curves are defined by first pluralities of first points associated with the plurality of first polynomials, and the plurality of non-intersecting second curves are defined by second pluralities of second points associated with the plurality of second polynomials.

In another embodiment, a camouflage design includes a first pattern made up of a plurality of colors, and a second pattern made up of a plurality of non-intersecting first curves and a plurality of non-intersecting second curves.

In another embodiment, the plurality of colors includes neutral and near neutral colors, wherein at least three colors are selected from black, brown, green, khaki and gray. “Neutral colors”, are muted and flat in an emulation of natural colors and can be created by mixing two complementary colors or combining a pure color with white, black, or gray. Pure-neutral colors include black, white, and all grays, while near-neutral hues include browns, tan, and darker colors.

In another embodiment, the first pattern includes a plurality of shapes selected from pixelated shapes, blotches, bands, and brushstrokes.

In another embodiment, the second pattern includes at least one color selected from the plurality of colors of the first pattern.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1. Camouflage pattern with diagonal wave-like lines of the present invention.

FIG. 2. Photograph of personnel in military uniform made using a fabric printed with the camouflage pattern with diagonal wave-like lines of the present invention (A) and personnel wearing military uniform made using a fabric without wave-like lines (B).

FIG. 3. Photograph of a person wearing a uniform with the invention pattern, taken at a distance of 10 meters, where it is observed that the uniform blends in with the color of the background structure.

FIG. 4. Photograph of a person wearing a uniform with the pattern of the present invention, taken at a distance of 150 meters, which shows the effect of loss of definition of the outline, allowing improvement of the capacity for camouflage with the surroundings.

FIG. 5. Photograph of a person wearing a uniform with the pattern of the present invention, taken at a distance of 2 meters, showing the camouflage effect in jungle surroundings.

FIG. 6. Photograph of a person wearing a uniform with the pattern of the present invention, taken at a distance of 5 meters from the person in the foreground, showing the effect of camouflage in jungle surroundings.

FIG. 7. Photograph of a person wearing a uniform with the pattern of the present invention, taken at a distance of 1 meter, showing the effect of camouflage in dry woodland surroundings.

FIG. 8. Photograph of a person wearing a uniform with the pattern of the present invention, taken at a distance of 3 meters, showing the effect of camouflage in dry woodland surroundings.

FIG. 9. Photograph of a person wearing a uniform with the pattern of the present invention, taken at a distance of 3 meters, showing the effect of camouflage in flat terrain in a savannah climate.

FIG. 10. Photograph of a person A wearing a uniform with the pattern of the present invention and a person B wearing a uniform with a pattern other than that of the present invention, taken in daylight at a distance of 5 meters.

FIG. 11. Photograph of a person A wearing a uniform with the pattern of the present invention and a person B wearing a uniform with a pattern other than that of the present invention, taken using a night-vision device at a distance of 2 meters.

FIG. 12. A graph of the first set of non-intersecting curves defined by first polynomials and a second set of non-intersecting curves defined by second polynomials.

FIG. 13. A pattern created by repeating a portion of a graph.

FIG. 14. A plurality of points selected from a plurality of non-intersecting curves.

FIG. 15. A plurality of points selected from a plurality of non-intersecting curves.

FIG. 16. A pattern in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 17. Another pattern in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 18. Another pattern in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 19. Another pattern in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 20. Another pattern in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to a camouflage pattern, characterized in that it comprises two superimposed designs, wherein the first design is a camouflage print comprising between 2 and 15 colors, of different tone or shade, in which there is a combination of alternating light and dark colors, and the second design placed over the first, which comprises a series of diagonal wave-like lines (2), which may be oriented in the same direction or may lie in opposite directions, intersecting in order to form a mesh, forming rhombi (3).

Said diagonal wave-like lines are sinusoidal lines that, when the print of the first design is intersected, generate a series of small, irregular sections, the frequency of which in nature is high, and therefore the human eye perceives them as normal and overlooks them because it considers them to be part of the surroundings.

In an alternative of the invention, the camouflage print comprises between 3 and 6 colors or tones, which are combined to create a micropattern (4) repeated along the pattern of the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the predominant color in the pattern of the first print is the lightest color or the second lightest color. It is preferable for said predominant color to be present in a proportion of from 30% to 60% of the total of the pattern.

Said first design comprises a print selected from the group comprising pixelated, blotch, band, brushstroke or strait camouflage. Preferably, the first design comprises a pixelated print in which the wave-like lines intersect each pixel at least once.

The second design, which consists of diagonal wave-like lines distributed along the pattern, where the distance between said diagonal wave-like lines may be the same along the pattern. In an alternative of the invention, the distance between the diagonal wave-like lines may vary along the pattern, said distance being smaller in certain areas of the pattern and greater in others.

Preferably, the ratio between the distance between the wave-like lines of the second design and the dimension of the side of the pixels forming part of the first design are in a proportion of between 0.1 and 2. The best option being those designs in which said proportion is equal to 1, i.e. the distance between the wave-like lines is equal to the dimension of the side of the pixels.

Complementing the aforesaid, given that the wave-like lines of the second design are sinusoidal, they form crests. Preferably, the distance between the crests of the waves of the wave-like lines of the second design is the same. However, also part of the present invention is the design in which the distance between crests of the wave-like line varies along the pattern.

Another important aspect of the present invention is the color of the wave-like lines forming the second pattern. The diagonal wave-like lines have to be in the same color as one of the colors of the first design in order to reduce the contrast of the pattern relative to its surroundings.

Preferably, the lines are in the same color as one of the colors of the first design, and better still said lines are in the most predominant color in the first design, this being in order to generate a greater reflectance of the light spectrum and to create a three-dimensional effect in the design since upon placing the mesh design on the fragments of the same color in the first design the lines of the mesh are lost, which causes the segments in the same color as the mesh to stand out. This information is processed by the human brain, giving an impression of depth.

In color theory, a tint is a mixture of a color with white, which reduces darkness, while a shade is a mixture with black, which increases darkness. Both processes affect the resulting color mixture's relative lightness. A tone is produced either by mixing a color with grey, or by both tinting and shading. Mixing a color with any neutral color (including black, gray, and white) reduces the chroma, or colorfulness, while the hue (the relative mixture of red, yellow, green, etc. depending on the colorspace) remains unchanged.

While pure color can be used, it is preferable that the chosen color's tint, tone and shades are used.

In art it is common to darken a paint color by adding black paint—producing colors called shades—or to lighten a color by adding white—producing colors called tints. Colors can also shift in their hues. For instance, darkening a color by adding black can cause colors such as yellows, reds and oranges, to shift toward the greenish or bluish part of the spectrum. Lightening a color by adding white can cause a shift towards blue when mixed with reds and oranges. See Abney effect, which describes the perceived hue shift that occurs when white light is added to a monochromatic light source. Sir Abney demonstrated that the cause of the apparent change in hue was the red light and green light that comprise this light source, and the blue light component of white light had no contribution to the Abney effect.

Another practice when darkening a color is to use its opposite, or complementary, color (e.g. violet-purple added to yellowish-green) in order to neutralize it without a shift in hue, and darken it if the additive color is darker than the parent color. When lightening a color this hue shift can be corrected with the addition of a small amount of an adjacent color to bring the hue of the mixture back in line with the parent color (e.g. adding a small amount of orange to a mixture of red and white will correct the tendency of this mixture to shift slightly towards the blue end of the spectrum).

In one embodiment, the colors black, brown, green, khaki and gray are used. A combination of tints and shades of these colors are used to make up the first design having a print being pixelated, blotch, band, brushstroke or strait camouflage. One of the colors used in the first design is applied and used for the second design, which consists of diagonal wave-like lines distributed along the pattern, provided that the color is not black in this particular embodiment. For example, gray is used in the second design.

According to the invention, neutral and near neutral colors are selected. These are, for example, earth tones such as black, brown, green, tan, khaki and gray. “Neutral colors”, are muted and flat in an emulation of natural colors and can be created by mixing two complementary colors or combining a pure color with white, black, or gray. Pure-neutral colors include black, white, and all grays, while near-neutral hues include browns, tan, and darker colors.

In another embodiment, the colors black, green, khaki and gray are used. A combination of tints and shades of these colors are used to make up the first design. One of the colors used in the first design is applied and used for the second design, wherein the color is not black. For example, gray is used in the second design.

In a further embodiment, the colors black, brown, green and khaki are used. A combination of tints and shades of these colors are used to make up the first design. For example, black, brown, dark green, khaki, light khaki and light green are used to make up the first design. One of the colors used in the first design is applied and used for the second design, wherein the color is not black. For example, light khaki is used in the second design.

In another embodiment, the colors black, brown, green and khaki are used. A combination of tints and shades of these colors are used to make up the first design. For example, black, brown, three different shades of green and a light khaki are used. One of the colors used in the first design is applied and used for the second design, wherein the color is not black. For example, light khaki is used in the second design.

In yet another embodiment, the colors black, brown, green and khaki are used. A combination of tints and shades of these colors are used to make up the first design. For example, black, two different shades of brown, two different shades of green and khaki are used. One of the colors used in the first design is applied and used for the second design, wherein the color is not black. For example, khaki is used in the second design.

In a further embodiment, black and gray are used. A combination of black and different tones of gray are used to make up the first design. The lightest tone of gray used in the first design is applied and used in the second design.

In addition to that which is set forth in the preceding paragraph, the wave-like lines conceal the edges of the shapes to which the pattern is applied, which compromises visual acuity, preventing outlines and shapes from being defined and thereby reducing the probability that the object covered with the pattern will be detected and identified, which ultimately leads to an increase in the survival rate of military personnel in countries in conflict.

EXAMPLES

With a view to demonstrating the effects achieved with the camouflage pattern of the present invention, a series of field studies were performed in which a group of persons were clothed in uniforms of which the fabric incorporates the camouflage pattern of the present invention and a second group of persons wore uniforms using clothing that did not have the superimposed mesh design.

To establish perception as to the level of detection and identification of the persons making up the above-defined groups, a group of 50 observers underwent the test of determining the location of the uniformed personnel, in photographs and in the field, in order to ascertain which uniform afforded greater camouflage.

Within this context, FIG. 2 shows a group (A) composed of four persons wearing the uniform with the pattern of the invention and a group (B) of four persons wearing a pixelated uniform lacking wave-like lines and having a different pixelated pattern. Of the observers questioned, 90% took the view that the pattern of the invention was less detectable, attracted less attention, and better resembled the surroundings.

When the group of observers was shown the photograph of FIG. 3, it was found that 80% of them perceived the color of the uniform in the same way as that of the structure alongside which the person using the pattern of the invention was located. Upon approaching said person, it was possible to establish that that assertion was incorrect since the uniform is gray and the greenish tones are the result of reflectance of the light spectrum on the pattern claimed herein.

FIG. 4 shows how reflectance of the light effect on the surface of the aircraft is in turn reflected by the camouflage pattern, causing a resemblance that prevents the wearer of the pattern being detected at a distance of 150 meters.

When the tests were carried out in different terrains and environments, it was found that despite using a color that was infrequent in nature, such as different tones of gray, good camouflage was successfully achieved independently of whether the space where the user wearing the uniform with the pattern was located was jungle (FIGS. 5 and 6), dry woodland (FIGS. 7 and 8) and savannah (FIG. 9), and in all cases the observers involved in the experiment had difficulty in terms of detecting and especially in terms of identifying the person wearing the uniform with the pattern of the present invention irrespective of the terrain in which the photograph was taken or the test was carried out.

By contrasting the level of camouflage between two patterns evaluated in the daylight test, it was found that 90% of those questioned saw the user (B) of the pattern without lines more easily than the user (A) of the pattern of the present invention.

Lastly, the two groups of users underwent detection using night-vision devices. FIG. 10 shows a user (B) of the camouflage without wave-like lines resting on the body of the user (A) of the camouflage pattern of the invention, 95% of observers taking the view that the body of the user (A) was a rock on which the user (B), who was easily detectable, was resting.

Given the results of the tests carried out, it is obvious that there is a reduction in the level of perception, detection and identification of the user of the pattern of the present application. This demonstrates the existence of an unexpected effect, since the inclusion of the diagonal lines of the second design forming the camouflage pattern of the invention enhances the level of camouflage of the user independently of the terrain and the environment in which said user is located.

Polynomials

In accordance with an embodiment, a camouflage pattern includes a first pattern made up of a plurality of colors and a second pattern made up of a first plurality of non-intersecting curves and a second plurality of non-intersecting curves. The first pattern may include a plurality of pixelated shapes, blotches, bands, brushstrokes, etc. The first set of non-intersecting curves intersect the second set of non-intersecting curves. For example, the second pattern may be overlaid over the first pattern. The second pattern may include one or more colors from the first pattern.

In accordance with an embodiment, a camouflage pattern is formed from a pattern that includes a first plurality of non-intersecting curves and a second set of non-intersecting curves. The first set of non-intersecting curves intersect the second set of non-intersecting curves.

Each of the curves of the first set of non-intersecting curves, and each of the curves of the second set of non-intersecting curves, may be defined by any suitable polynomial of any degree. In one embodiment, the curves of the first set of non-intersecting curves are defined by a first plurality of polynomials that includes a second degree polynomial and a third degree polynomial, and the curves of the second set of non-intersecting curves are defined by a second plurality of polynomials that includes a second degree polynomial and a third degree polynomial.

In one embodiment, a portion of a pattern formed from a first set of non-intersecting curves and a second set of non-intersecting curves is selected and used repetitively form a plurality of adjacent tiles to create a larger pattern, which may be used to form a camouflage pattern. For example, a portion of a pattern in a region defined by 0<x<1 and 0<y<1 may be repeated to create a plurality of adjacent tiles that form a larger camouflage pattern.

In accordance with another embodiment, a camouflage pattern includes a first plurality of wave-like curves and a second plurality of wave-like curves that lie in opposite directions, intersecting each other repeatedly at a plurality of intersections, thereby defining a plurality of elements, each element being disposed between two successive intersections and having curved edges defined by the wave-like curves, the plurality of elements forming a mesh pattern.

A camouflage pattern such as those described herein may be printed or otherwise formed on the surface of a fabric, which may be used to form a camouflage uniform.

Any suitable manufacturing method may be used to manufacture a camouflage fabric and/or a camouflage uniform. Known textile manufacturing methods may be used.

In other embodiments, a camouflage pattern such as those described herein may be used on other products or objects. For example, a camouflage pattern may be printed, painted, or otherwise formed on a vehicle, a tank, an airplane, a building, a tent, a backpack, a weapon, etc.

In an illustrative embodiment, a camouflage pattern is formed based on first and second sets of non-intersecting curves defined by the polynomials described below. The first set of non-intersecting curves includes a plurality of curves defined by the following polynomials L1, L2, L3, and L4:

(1) L1(x)=1.0836207177069 x²+1.921228745901 x+0.5724094221115

(2) L2(x)=−0.0722721014375 x²+1.9179524234076 x−1.2456803219701

(3) L3(x)=1.4794218428651 x³−1.174759250845 x²+1.8996022653495 x

(4) L4(x)=0.7939941438544 x³−1.1858399917424 x²+2.2388931265054 x−0.6140668972257

L(1) and L(2) are polynomials of the second degree. L(3) and L(4) are polynomials of the third degree.

The second set of non-intersecting curves includes a plurality of curves defined by the following polynomials L5, L6, L7, and L8:

(5) L5(x)=0.302499107406 x²−2.2942684500755 x+0.6722748559549

(6) L6(x)=−0.795648432102 x³+1.2617498853453 x²−2.7101461651996 x+1.4462384418432

(7) L7(x)=−0.5738513358302 x³+1.9119887350931 x²−4.1031200242697 x+2.6729425536722

(8) L8(x)=−4.7411319472502 x²+6.4893735173258 x−1.1571743676205

L(5) and L(8) are polynomials of the second degree. L(6) and L(7) are polynomials of the third degree.

FIG. 12 shows a graph of the first set of non-intersecting curves defined by polynomials L(1)-L(4) and the second set of non-intersecting curves defined by polynomials L(5)-L(8) in accordance with an embodiment. Each of the first polynomials L(1)-L(4) intersects each of the second polynomials L(5)-L(8). The first and second sets of curves form a pattern that may be used to create a camouflage pattern.

The intersecting curves define a plurality of shapes including shapes 1225. Each shape 1225 has a first side formed from a first curved line, a second side formed from a second curved line, a third side formed from a third curved line, and a fourth side formed from a fourth curved line.

For example, a camouflage pattern including the pattern illustrated in FIG. 12 may be formed on a selected fabric to create a camouflage uniform. The camouflage may be formed of any suitable material, such as, for example, cotton, polyester, wool, etc. The uniform may be a 50% cotton, 50% nylon composition. Other materials may be used. Other material ratios may be used.

In accordance with an embodiment, a portion of a pattern formed by first and second sets of non-intersecting curves is defined, and the portion is copied and repeated in a repetitive pattern to create a larger pattern. The portion may be copied to form tiles, and the tiles may be placed in a repeating pattern such that the corners and edges of a first tile are fully adjacent, or may be placed in a staggered pattern such that each tile is shifted a predetermined distance relative to an adjacent tile.

For example, referring to FIG. 12, a portion (or tile) 1275 is defined in the region 0<x<1 and 0<y<1. Portion 1275 may be repeated and arranged as adjacent tiles to form a larger pattern 1340.

FIG. 13 shows a pattern created by repeating portion 1275 of graph 1240 in accordance with an embodiment. Pattern 1340 includes a plurality of tiles 1312, 1314, 1316, 1318. Each tile 1312, 1314, 1316, 1318 is a copy of portion 1274 of graph 1240. The pattern 1340 includes a first row containing tiles 1312 and 1314 and a second row containing tiles 1316 and 1318. In this example, the tiles in the second row are shifted by a distance d relative to the tiles in the first row. For example, tile 1318 is adjacent to tile 1314, but is shifted relative to tile 1314 by the distance d. While FIG. 13 shows only four tiles, in other embodiments, a repeating pattern may include more than four tiles. In other embodiments, tiles may be shifted by different distances, or may not be shifted, relative to adjacent tiles.

In accordance with an embodiment, a camouflage design may be created based on pattern 1340 of FIG. 13.

In order to create a larger pattern from a plurality of tiles, it is not necessary that the curves at the edges of each tile match or join with curves at the edges of adjacent tiles. In some embodiments, the curves at an edge of a first tile join precisely with curves at the edge of an adjacent tile. In other embodiments, the curves at an edge of a first tile do not join precisely with curves at the edge of an adjacent tile.

In accordance with another embodiment, for each polynomial among a first plurality of polynomials, a respective first plurality of first points associated with the corresponding curve are selected, and for each polynomial among a second plurality of second polynomials, a respective second plurality of second points associated with the corresponding curve is selected. For each polynomial, not all points are selected. A first plurality of non-intersecting curves is generated based on the first pluralities of first points, and a second plurality of non-intersecting curves is generated based on the second pluralities of second points. Because a limited number of points from each polynomial were used, the first plurality of non-intersecting curves and the second plurality of non-intersecting curves may represent only selected portions of the corresponding polynomials, and may differ from the corresponding polynomials.

FIG. 14 shows a first plurality of first points selected from a first plurality of first non-intersecting curves in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 15 shows a second plurality of second points selected from a second plurality of second non-intersecting curves in accordance with an embodiment.

For example, referring to FIG. 12, the following points may be selected from polynomials L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7, and L8:

-   -   (A)=(−0.4608748741725, −0.455448439197)     -   (B) (19.8872856697505, −0.4235112223976)     -   (C) (0.0290221256545, 0.6059450988025)     -   (D) (null)     -   (E) (0.1689733348583, 0.2932416157379)     -   (F) (0.3526592969382, 0.6125053117339)     -   (G) (0.1995876618716, 0.9492629088804)     -   (H) (0.9649458372046, −0.0216486049706)     -   (I) (0.5319717837305, 0.9448894335928)     -   (J) (null)     -   (K) (0.3176714946372, −0.0260220802582)     -   (L) (0.5057309320048, 0.2954283533817)     -   (M) (0.6762964682219, 0.5950114105834)     -   (N) (0.8, 1)     -   (O) (null)     -   (P) (0.663176042359, −0.028208817902)     -   (Q) (0.8249946280008, 0.2760007640121)     -   (R) (1.0028476344233, 0.5825060988495)

A pattern of intersecting curves is generating based on the first plurality of first non-intersecting curves and the second plurality of non-intersecting curves. In the pattern, the first plurality of first non-intersecting curves intersect the second plurality of non-intersecting curves. A camouflage pattern is created based on the pattern of intersecting curves.

FIGS. 16-20 show a pattern of intersecting curves generated based on the pluralities of points of FIGS. 14 and 15 in accordance with an embodiment.

In another embodiment, a camouflage design includes a first pattern made up of a plurality of colors, and a second pattern made up of a plurality of non-intersecting first curves and a plurality of non-intersecting second curves.

The plurality of colors of the first pattern may include at least three colors selected from black, brown, green, khaki and gray. In another embodiment, the first pattern may include only two colors.

In another embodiment, the first pattern includes a plurality of shapes selected from pixelated shapes, blotches, bands, and brushstrokes.

In another embodiment, the second pattern includes at least one color selected from the plurality of colors of the first pattern. 

1. An article of manufacture comprising: an object having a surface; and a camouflage design on the surface; wherein the camouflage design includes a plurality of non-intersecting first curves and a plurality of non-intersecting second curves, wherein each first curve of the plurality of non-intersecting first curves intersects each second curve of the plurality of non-intersecting second curves; wherein: the plurality of non-intersecting first curves are defined by a plurality of first polynomials comprising at least one polynomial having a second degree and at least one polynomial having a third degree; and the plurality of non-intersecting second curves are defined by a plurality of second polynomials comprising at least one polynomial having a second degree and at least one polynomial having a third degree.
 2. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the object is one of an item of clothing, a vehicle, a tank, an airplane, a building, a tent, a backpack, and a weapon.
 3. The article of manufacture of claim 2, wherein the object is an item of clothing, wherein the item of clothing is a uniform.
 4. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of first polynomials includes the following: (9) L1(x)=1.0836207177069 x²+1.921228745901 x+0.5724094221115 (10) L2(x)=−0.0722721014375 x²+1.9179524234076 x−1.2456803219701 (11) L3(x)=1.4794218428651 x³−1.174759250845 x²+1.8996022653495 x (12) L4(x)=0.7939941438544 x³−1.1858399917424 x²+2.2388931265054 x−0.6140668972257; and the plurality of second polynomials includes the following: (13) L5(x)=0.302499107406 x²−2.2942684500755 x+0. 6722748559549 (14) L6(x)=−0.795648432102 x³+1.2617498853453 x²−2.7101461651996 x+1.4462384418432 (15) L7(x)=−0.5738513358302 x³+1.9119887350931 x²−4.1031200242697 x+2.6729425536722 (16) L8(x)=−4.7411319472502 x²+6.4893735173258 x−1.1571743676205.
 5. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of non-intersecting first curves are defined by first pluralities of first points associated with the plurality of first polynomials; and the plurality of non-intersecting second curves are defined by second pluralities of second points associated with the plurality of second polynomials.
 6. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the camouflage design further comprises: a first pattern comprising a plurality of colors; and a second pattern comprising the plurality of non-intersecting first curves and the plurality of non-intersecting second curves.
 7. The articular of manufacture of claim 6, wherein the plurality of colors includes at least three colors selected from black, brown, green, khaki and gray.
 8. The articular of manufacture of claim 7, wherein the first pattern comprises a plurality of shapes selected from pixelated shapes, blotches, bands, and brushstrokes.
 9. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the second pattern includes at least one color selected from the plurality of colors of the first pattern. 